Look no further than Uptown Cheapskate for racks filled with trendy styles and quality secondhand fashion.
Known for its curated selection of gently used fashion, the popular resale store has been a go-to for Penn State students and is now located just steps away from campus.
Uptown Cheapskate officially relocated from 176 Rolling Ridge Drive to a more convenient spot in downtown State College at 522 E. College Ave, located next to The Rise.
The move sparked a wave of students and families into the stores’ aisles with excitement flowing through the space. As many students on campus do not have consistent transportation, employees hope this change will lead to more customers.
Karin Graham said she’s enthusiastic about Uptown Cheapskate’s future.
“It’s really exciting,” Graham, the store’s manager, said. “Being downtown, it’s honestly ideal for any retail store.”
Uptown Cheapskate had its initial grand opening in 2020 next to their sister store Kid to Kid, which has been in operation since 1997.
From the beginning, Graham noted that the plan was to move downtown for the Penn State student demographic.
Newly filled racks stand with men’s and women’s shoes and clothing at Uptown Cheapskate’s new location on Monday, May 26, 2025 in downtown State College, Pa.
“Before we knew what 2020 was bringing, we didn’t get a great kickstart to advertising,” Graham said. “We knew if we were able to come downtown, we would have a lot more access to college students.”
Isabela Marquez expressed her gratitude for Uptown Cheapskate’s system.
“I like how all the clothes are pretty convenient, really low prices [and] good quality, like if you look at the t-shirts, there’s no stains, no rips or anything,” Marquez, a shopper, said. “The one I went to, I only went there once or twice, but I did find a lot of great stuff that I still wear today.”
Uptown Cheapskate’s selective buying system ensures that only high-quality, gently used, on-trend fashion makes it to the racks. With a constant flow of items coming in and out, unique, individual styles are essential to the store.
Kamryn Whited detailed her role as a buyer for Uptown.
“I’m kind of the second eye to make sure they didn’t miss like a stain or anything,” Whited, an employee, said. “I put it into our buying system, give an offer to the customer and then pay them.”
One of the store’s perks is its cash or store credit offer — store credit is always 25% more than the cash offer, while the shopper can keep 10% for themself. This perk drives sales which then lets the community shop and sell at the same time.
Newly filled racks sit with women’s shoes at Uptown Cheapskate’s new location on Monday, May 26, 2025 in downtown State College, Pa.
Uptown Cheapskate had its grand re-opening on May 1, 2025 and began their celebration with a handful of surprises to the first shoppers from May 22 to May 25. Their prizes included shopping sprees, free merchandise, and daily giveaways – all to welcome their supporters with open arms.
Brooke Person highlighted the “accessibility” for students that came with Uptown Cheapskate and its relocation.
“It’s a great location,” Person, a fifth-year studying Spanish and labor and human resources, said. “It’s more accessible to college students, so they’ll have a lot more revenue from that.”
Person stated her relief for the addition to downtown State College.
“It’s better than some others,” Person said. “They have better clothes than some other stores in town for the same price.”
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